Chapter 43

Two muscular horses pulled a luxurious carriage into the inner courtyard of Rondor Castle.

It was a carriage embroidered with the olive tree crest of the Dubos family.

Knights who appeared swift and agile escorted the carriage forward, and upon spotting Vivian’s red hair, they offered a neat, courteous greeting.

Vivian acknowledged it with a nod.

Two years ago, when I first saw her, she didn’t carry herself with this kind of resolve, but now, bit by bit, it was settling into her demeanor.

If someone who didn’t know Vivian saw her now, they might think she was a cold, haughty-looking woman.

But I knew better.

…She was nervous.

I leisurely watched their meeting from the second-floor window of the castle, where I had a clear view of the courtyard.

Balon, Willas, and Martin, who had nothing to do at the Penal Unit, were also beside me.

The reason I was hiding up here?

First, I didn’t want to attend Rondor’s official events and get myself tangled in complicated matters.

Second…

…Vivian told me to get lost.

Well, maybe not “get lost,” but she did say to stay out of sight.

They’ll be staying for about three days, and she ordered me not to draw any attention during that time.

She insisted so vehemently, saying she hated it when I caused a scene.

Given the trouble I’ve stirred up before, I could understand why she felt uneasy.

But as she knows, I only raised hell when it was worth raising hell.

If the other side approached us reasonably, I had no intention of causing any problems first.

Even so, I understood.

Vivian’s potential first friends were these young ladies from the Dubos family.

She had been lonely anyway, so it’s no surprise she’s being this cautious.

In an effort to reduce even the slightest variables, she’d been practicing how to greet the Dubos ladies for days.

“Hello, hello…” She repeatedly practiced it like a parrot.

It was almost funny how a feudal lord like her was so tense about meeting some subordinate family’s daughters… I almost wanted to mock her, but only for a moment. I know too well how painful loneliness can be, so I just pretended I didn’t notice.

In the end, it’s just Vivian and me—both of us having lost our families, both of us growing up with no one to rely on.

We met when we were fourteen and thirteen, and now we were at sixteen and fifteen.

The only ones who truly understood our loneliness and pain were each other.

We are the ones who desperately need someone to share our feelings more than anyone else.

If I’d had someone else besides Vivian, I would have shared emotions with that person, too.

Likewise, if Vivian had someone else, she might not have even glanced at me…

She might’ve only handed down punishments.

But reality is not so kind.

As representatives of our families, without any adults to depend on, surviving amidst hostility and constant wariness—there are no others around us who’ve gone through that. Just the two of us.

No matter how much we might hate it, we’re the only ones who understand each other’s hearts.

That’s why, knowing how much Vivian was looking forward to today, I chose to stay out of the way.

The carriage came to a stop, and the coachman opened its door.

Soon, the Dubos family’s young ladies, dressed in fine attire, stepped out.

“Oh.”

Martin whispered as he saw them.

Balon, late to respond, nodded and echoed softly.

“…Oh…”

The ladies of the Dubos family, who reside farther south than Roctana, in an even warmer region, appeared like wildflowers in their attire.

They wore bright-colored clothes harmonized to enhance their beauty.

Both had slightly sun-kissed skin and brownish hair.

“What was the tall one’s name again?” Martin asked, and Willas replied.

“Asha Dubos.”

Asha Dubos, the first daughter and the third child of the Dubos family.

Tall and slender with well-toned legs, lovely brown hair, and a warm yet mysteriously secretive smile.

I heard she became an adult this year, and indeed, she had a certain mature presence.

Beside her stood her younger sister, Rani Dubos.

The family’s second daughter, the fourth child, the same age as Vivian—fifteen.

She was slightly shorter than Asha, about Vivian’s height.

She looked at Vivian with a bright smile, her demeanor lively and animated.

Her large eyes sparkled with mischief and curiosity, and her dimples deepened, adding cuteness to her grin.

Now I understood why Vivian said both were beauties.

“Wow…”

Willas sighed in admiration and then spoke nonsense.

“…I want to grab Lady Asha’s chest and plant a kiss right on her.”

-Smack!

I smacked Willas on the head.

All three of them stared at me, wide-eyed like startled rabbits.

“W-Why?”

Willas rubbed the back of his head, confused. I let out an exasperated sigh at his ignorance.

“Because when you guys run your mouths like that, even I…”

…Even I end up looking suspicious in Vivian’s eyes.

I was going to say that, but I stopped myself.

They quickly lost interest in my sudden outburst and continued gawking at the young ladies.

“They’re really pretty.”

“How come nobles are always so pretty?”

“You idiot, it’s because nobles always marry beautiful women. After a few generations, they’re all gorgeous.”

“When I look at Kylo, I don’t envy nobles at all, but… if it means I can marry a pretty woman, then maybe being a noble wouldn’t be so bad…”

“…They’re really pretty.”

Even as they kept yammering, the trio never took their eyes off the ladies.

I also gazed quietly at the Dubos young ladies.

“…”

A question arose.

I mulled it over for a moment, then asked them,

“…Are they really that pretty?”

Martin snorted, baffled.

“Are you out of your mind, Kylo? Where are your eyes? Of course they’re pretty…!”

“I mean, I know they’re pretty, but…”

I scratched my head and casually tossed out the question,

“…Then what about Vivian Rondor?”

The three fell silent at once.

I pretended not to notice their awkward hush and looked off into the distance.

Balon spoke first.

“…No matter what, if you compare them to Lady Vivian…”

“Hey, Lady Vivian is off-limits…”

“Are you crazy? Who could possibly stand up to Lady Vivian in comparison…?”

“…”

I figured Vivian was the best, but I just wanted to double-check in case I was somehow enchanted by a curse or something.

It wasn’t that, so I felt slightly relieved by their answer.

Asha Dubos and Rani Dubos walked toward Vivian.

Vivian remained where she stood, waiting for them.

The Dubos ladies pinched the hems of their skirts and bent their knees, offering a polite greeting.

Asha spoke on their behalf.

“We greet the Sun of Rondor.”

Vivian did not respond immediately. With a poised smile, she answered,

“Thank you for making the journey.”

She truly gave off a regal and dignified air. I don’t know if it was all an act or if these qualities had now become part of her, but there was an undeniable majesty flowing from her that one could not easily ignore.

I wondered if those young ladies knew how much Vivian had practiced for this moment. How much effort it took for someone who once stuttered to reach this point.

Seeing their harmonious start, I felt at ease.

“…Let’s go.”

So I stopped watching and spoke to the three at my side.

They tore their eyes away from the young ladies only reluctantly, but eventually moved on as I led the way.

****

“...And this here is the hall of Rondor Castle.”

Vivian was giving the Dubos young ladies a tour of the castle’s layout.

Asha smiled as she surveyed the interior calmly, while Rani expressed her excitement with repeated exclamations of admiration.

“It’s so beautiful, Lady Vivian.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Ah... truly...”

With her trademark cheerfulness, Rani dashed into the open space of the hall.

Now that someone besides the maids had entered this space—where Vivian had always shared meals with Kylo—Vivian felt a hint of awkwardness.

Rani, visibly moved by the hall’s beauty, twirled lightly and spread her arms wide. As if blissfully unaware of the world’s stains, she reveled in pure happiness. Then, she ran back to Vivian and clasped both her hands.

“Please promise you’ll invite me again next time! It’s too sad to only see this beautiful place once.”

At Rani’s sudden move to close the distance, Vivian flinched slightly.

Seeing this, Asha scolded her sister.

“Rani...! What are you doing to Lady Vivian...!”

Vivian quickly responded before the atmosphere could sour.

“No, it’s fine. If Lady Rani is happy, I’m happy too.”

Even so, Rani let go of Vivian’s hands at Asha’s admonition and offered a remorseful smile. Then, in a gentle voice, she continued the conversation.

“...Lady Vivian, someday you’ll host a ball here too, right?”

A ball.

Vivian had never once thought of such a thing. An event where various noble families gather in one place, strengthening social ties through dance. She’d been steadily learning dance and etiquette from Madame Linne, but never had she looked forward to a ball the way Rani did.

Rani’s words made Vivian glance around the hall and imagine it. Imagining it filled with people, instead of just her and Kylo. Imagining whom she might take by the hand to dance...

...Only one person came to mind.

“Well, someday I suppose I must.”

Vivian brushed off the troubling notion. The reason that person came to mind was simply because there was no one else around her.

If she became closer to people like Asha and Rani today, perhaps eventually it wouldn’t be a problem.

Just then, the maids entered the hall with tea.

Following Vivian’s gesture, Asha and Rani took their seats.

In the calmer atmosphere, Asha offered an apology.

“Lady Vivian, I’m sorry. Rani’s behavior can be so unruly...”

Vivian responded with a light smile.

“It’s alright. It’s been a while since we’ve had such a playful mood around here, and I’m quite pleased.”

“Rani is still naïve and doesn’t know the ways of the world...”

“...”

Vivian looked at Rani.

Now that Asha had pointed it out, Rani seemed embarrassed, avoiding eye contact as if she realized her mistake through her sister’s words.

But it was fine.

Vivian’s feelings toward Rani were positive.

Rani’s demeanor was like an image of what Vivian herself might have been like had she never lost her family.

She couldn’t become like Rani now, after all she’d been through, but just watching Rani radiate positivity made Vivian feel uplifted.

Hoping to lighten the mood, Vivian spoke up.

“Still, Lady Rani must be quite popular. With such a bright personality...”

Asha covered her mouth with a refined laugh and answered.

“Her personality can be polarizing, but yes, she does have her admirers. Especially among the young gentlemen of various families.”

“...”

Vivian paused for a moment, then nodded, smiling.

Rani was now blushing furiously, blinking her eyes in surprise.

Vivian wasn’t really interested, but lately she’d been learning from Madame Linne about how to attract men. So, wanting to follow the flow of conversation, she asked without any embarrassment, as naturally as possible:

“Really, Lady Rani? Please, share your secret.”

“Ehehe... I really don’t know... I think they just find my silliness endearing... A-and I’m sure Lady Vivian would be much more popular than me...”

Asha chimed in with praise as well.

“That’s right. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but you have a sort of cool, lofty presence... Also, I heard before that you accompanied a monster hunting expedition. I think that’s just so admirable.”

“...”

Lofty and admirable.

That was the opposite of what Kylo had called her—a crybaby, a coward, pathetic, weak. How long had it been since she last heard words of praise about her demeanor instead of insults?

Yet why was it that Asha and Rani’s compliments felt less substantial than Kylo’s assessments?

Vivian decided it must be because she was wearing a mask. They were praising the front she put on.

Putting on another smile, Vivian carried on with the polite, superficial exchange. Sipping her tea, she got to know the Dubos young ladies better.

It was pleasant.

Breaking away from the painful political pressures and burdens, it wasn’t bad to spend time like this, chatting lightheartedly.

It felt like reclaiming a forgotten peace.

…However, as time passed, this peacefulness gradually drained her energy.

Keeping up a light and pleasant façade wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

It felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes.

Their purity now seemed so foreign to her. It was like mingling with another race entirely.

Perhaps she’d experienced too much, drifting too far from innocence.

-Clink.

At that moment, Rani set down her teacup.

“...Lady Vivian.”

“Yes?”

Noticeably quieter since Asha’s admonition, Rani seemed to have something to say. Vivian waited patiently for her to speak.

Fidgeting, Rani finally opened her mouth.

“I—I actually wanted to ask you something if we ever met.”

Rani’s voice brimmed with anticipation, piquing Vivian’s curiosity.

“Yes?”

“Y-you said you accompanied that expedition, right? I’m...really interested in that sort of thing...”

Vivian smiled faintly and asked.

“You’re interested in going on expeditions yourself, Lady Rani? You must be braver than I thought.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it...”

“...?”

“...I really love stories about knights. Knights, dragons, princesses... you know what I mean?”

Vivian’s face stiffened at that. Without realizing, she furrowed her brow slightly and waited for Rani to continue.

Surely not Kylo. Though Kylo had drawn attention for his achievements, the Dubos family’s young ladies would know of the tensions between the Allen family and Rondor. To bring up Kylo’s name would be a major faux pas.

Besides, the story of Kylo slaying a dragon had only circulated within Roctana itself.

Fortunately, Rani said nothing about him.

“I-I heard you were chased by a dragon, Lady Vivian! In that case, were all of Rondor’s knights there to protect you?”

“Not all of Rondor’s knights, just those nearby. Some were squires, some mere soldiers.”

“I see... But how did you escape the dragon’s pursuit? Or was the story exaggerated?”

Vivian paused briefly, recalling the moment when Kylo had jumped behind her, facing the dragon alone.

...And without realizing it, Vivian muttered softly.

“...My knight protected me all by himself.”

“Kyaaah!”

Rani’s excited squeal startled Vivian.

Squealing repeatedly, Rani asked, eyes brimming with excitement.

“C-could I possibly meet that knight?”

At the sight of Rani’s expectant, adorable face, Vivian’s expression instantly hardened.

“No.”

Her voice came out colder than she could understand herself.

“Ah... alright?”

Rani was immediately flustered and looked around anxiously.

Vivian, equally embarrassed, hastily tried to explain herself.

“H-he’s got such a terrible personality... If you met him, Lady Rani, you’d only feel upset.”

Saying that, Vivian raised her teacup to her lips.

She tried to justify her lie, over and over.

Yes, she could never introduce a 16-year-old Kylo—who’d certainly awakened to carnal desires by now—to someone as innocent as Rani. It would be unthinkable.

– – The End of The Chapter – –

 

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